According to the World Health Organisation (WHO): “Listeriosis affects a variety of animals. Foodborne infection in humans occurs through the consumption of contaminated foods, particularly unpasteurized milk, soft cheeses, vegetables and prepared meat products such as pâté. Unlike most foodborne pathogens, Listeria multiplies readily in refrigerated foods that have been contaminated”. Continue reading →

New York, 8 March 2018-We are at a pivotal moment for women’s rights. The historical and structural inequalities that have allowed oppression and discrimination to flourish are being exposed like never before. From Latin America to Europe to Asia, on social media, on film sets, on the factory floor and in the streets, women are calling for lasting change and zero tolerance for sexual assault, harassment, and discrimination of all kinds. Continue reading →

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU), the United Nations (UN), and the European Union (EU) are following closely and with much interest the progress towards Sierra Leone’s presidential, parliamentary and local council elections scheduled to take place on 7 March 2018. Continue reading →

As part of my commitment to encourage and enable staff to call out sexual harassment in the workplace, and to support victims and witnesses, I am pleased to announce the launch of a “Speak up” helpline.

The helpline is a 24-hour resource for UN Secretariat personnel to speak confidentially with an impartial and trained individual who can provide information on protection, support and reporting mechanisms. Going live tomorrow, the helpline will complement existing reporting mechanisms. The goal is to attend to the needs of personnel, and to empower them to make informed decisions on action, if they choose. More details, including the phone number, will be provided by the Office of Human Resources Management. Continue reading →

Ms. Jayathma Wickramanayake United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth at the Special Inter-generational conversation in Johannesburg, South Africa, 15 February 2018

Johannesburg, South Africa – 16 February 2018: United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth Jayathma Wickramanayake concluded her visit to South Africa and the final leg of a five-country trip with an interactive discussion with young people at a gathering held yesterday in Johannesburg.

Pretoria, South Africa: The United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, Jayathma Wickramanayake, yesterday held an interactive discussion with young girls from the Young Rise Club at the Steve Tshwete Secondary School in Olievenhoutbosch, west of Pretoria. The club, a programme organized by non-profit organization Soul City, aims to empower girls on HIV prevention and sexual and reproductive health.

She urges youth to build cross-cutting networks that deal with education, civic participation, employment and peace and security

Johannesburg, February 12, 2018: The UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, Jayathma Wickramanayake, in a keynote speech at the youth pre-conference on Sexual Health and Rights (SHR), called on youth Sexual Risk Reduction (SRR) advocates to build alliances beyond SRHR circles with organizations and networks that focus on education, employment, civic partnership, as well as peace and security. All of these issues, she noted, were interrelated, and a holistic approach was needed to tackle them.